Local

A proposal to close a segment of a Heath Springs road took a slight detour at Lancaster County Council’s April 22 meeting.
On council’s agenda was a request to close a portion of Walker Road, an almost four-mile stretch of county-owned road jutting off S.C. 522 and extending to Mt. Carmel Road in the Heath Springs area.
County Administrator Steve Willis recommended the closing in light of structural problems at a major creek crossing along the road and problems with erosion.

A search of a motel room ended with a long list of drug charges for two Lancaster residents early Monday, April 29.
Police arrested Marcus Demario Barnes, 27, 1841 Steele St., and Stephanie Breann Snipes, 22, 1296 W. Shore Drive, shortly after noticing several drugs in their room at the Super 8 motel, 1201 S.C. 9 Bypass, according to a Lancaster Police Department media report.

Lancaster city officials are looking at raising property taxes while increasing water and sewer rates as part of the 2013-14 budget.
City Council discussed those proposed hikes during a special planning session Tuesday, April 30, at Lancaster City Hall.
Finance Director James Absher led the presentation, which outlined projected revenues and planned expenses for the next fiscal year, as will as information on other proposals such as new staff positions.

A woman wanted for several fraudulent check charges was arrested last week, hours after her photo was released as one of the county’s “Most Wanted.”
Deputies arrested Louise Baker Eubanks, 34, 2059 Riverside Road, on April 26 for breach of trust $2,000 or less and nine counts of fraudulent check $500 or less, according to a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
The arrest came mere hours after Eubanks was profiled, along with nine other people, in the sheriff’s office’s monthly “Most Wanted” list.

I bought a couple of tomato plants this week. Given the times, it seems to be the thing to do. I guess these Celebrity Tomato plants are my way to remember the late Bobby Catoe, who died April 26.
I was acquainted with Catoe, but got to know him while covering the city and county government beats for The Lancaster News in the late 1990s.
At the time, Catoe was serving on Lancaster County Council.
I always called him “Mr. Catoe” out of respect, although he asked me not to do that.

Could a Charlotte-based land planning firm be the key to finally reigniting the county’s long-stalled discussions about B-3 commercial zoning?
County planning director Penelope G. Karagounis believes it’s possible.
A few weeks after Lancaster County Council authorized her to speak with a consultant to gain an outside perspective on the county’s B-3 issues, Karagounis presented the results of her preliminary discussion at council’s April 22 meeting.

A Lancaster woman is in more trouble with the law after she reportedly abandoned her young daughter while trying to evade police.
Melissa Sue Meyer, 23, 3041 Crenson Road, was arrested Tuesday, April 30, on a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Meyer was wanted by the Lancaster Police Department on an outstanding warrant for shoplifting.

INDIAN LAND – May Day has traditionally been a time to celebrate a season of new beginnings.
Lancaster County School District officials did just that Wednesday, May 1, with a groundbreaking ceremony for Indian Land’s new elementary school.
Held at the future school’s 26.5-acre site at 10251 Harrisburg Road, the ceremony drew nearly 35 educators, elected officials and community members despite gray skies and the occasional drizzle of rain.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
A Lancaster woman is in more trouble with the law after she reportedly abandoned her young daughter while trying to evade police.
Melissa Sue Meyer, 23, 3041 Crenson Road, was arrested Tuesday, April 30, on a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Meyer was wanted by the Lancaster Police Department on an outstanding warrant for shoplifting.

Investigators are hoping surveillance photos from Indian Land’s Walmart will lead to two men wanted in connection with stealing almost $5,000 in merchandise.
According to a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office press release, the two men have been involved in various shoplifting incidents throughout April at the store, located at 10048 Charlotte Highway.